Ratchet device for augers



) Apr. 3, 1923. 1,450,440

P. HUDSON RATCHET DEVICE FOR AUGERS Filed Feb. 25, i922 Patented Apr. 3, 1923.

UNITED STAT RATCHET DEVICE FOR AUGERS.

Application filed February 25, 1922. SeriaLNo. 539,219.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PEARL HUnsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burlington, in the county of Des Moines and State of Iowa, have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Ratchet Devices for Augers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Heretofore post hole digging augers have been so constructed that the hands of the operator are very often scratched by the fence wire, when digging post holes, therefore it is the purpose of the present invention to provide a device of this kind to avoid such disadvantages, and at the same time enable the auger to be readily rotated in either direction.

Another purpose consists in the provision of a ratchet device which is operatively connected on the upper end of the uppermost section of the tubular rod of an anger shaft, so as to permit the auger at the base of the shaft to be rotated, it being obvious that the shaft consists of a plurality of sections, enabling additional sections to be inserted, to extend theshaft, as the post hole deepens, i g

Still another purpose is the provision of a housing swiveled on the upper end of the uppermost section of the shaft, and containing spring tensioned ratchet dogs, which may be adjusted to operate in either direction, whereby the sectional tubular shaft may be rotated in either direction, that is, to rotate in a direction to bore the hole, and in a direction to extract the auger, after the desired depth has been reached.

A' further purpose is the provision of a casing or housing on the upper end of the uppermost section of the tubular shaft containing the ratchet means therein for operating the shaft,,together with socketed members secured to the upper face of the easing or housing, for the purpose of rotating the same, it being obvious that the ratchet means maybe manually manipulated, whereb-yit maybe adjusted for operation in either direction.

While he design and construction at present illustrated and set forth are deemed preferable, it is obvious that. as a result of a re duct-ion ofthe invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptible of changes, and the right to these changes is'cla'imed, provided they Figure 2 is a cross sectional View on line 2- -2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view, wherein the socketed handles or members are disposed,

for receiving a detachable handle;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the housing or casing, showing the ratchet dogs disposed just the opposite to that shown in-Figure 2, illustrating how the auger may be reversed in its operation. Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a conventional form of-posthole digging auger including a plurality of tubular shaft connections 2, which may be connected to extend down in the hole as it is being bored. In fact as'the hole deepens other shaft sections may be added. 'The upper tubular shaft section has a collar 3, which may be fastened to the shaft section by means of a pin or the liked, for the purpose of support ing a circular plate 5, which closes the lower end of a housing or casing 6. Formedintegrally with the upper extremity of the upper tubularshaft'seotion 7 ashort distance above the collar is a plurality of upper and. lower lugs 8 and 9. These lugs project radially from theupper extremity of the uppertu bular shaft, and are adapted to' be engaged 'bythe arms 10 and 11 of the ratchet dogs'12 and 13, which are pivotally supported atr14 at diametrically opposite portions on the interior of the casingor housingt. The dogs 10 cooperate with the lugs 8 and 9 when the tubular shaft section is being rotated in one direction, and when the dogs are reversed in their positions, the ends 11 of the dogs cooperatewith the lugs 8 and 9' to rotate the tubular shaft in the opposite direction. I

The lugs 8 and 9 are formed integrally with the upper extremity of the tubular shaft section 7 and in orderto assemble the Price. v

PEARL HUDSON, OF BURLINGTON, IOWA.

' are comprehended within the scope of what 7 ratchet device, the plate 5 is first applied to. 'the..upper tubular shaft section, byfrin serting the section through the plate. The collar 3 is then'telescoped over the lower end of the upper tubular shaft section until it contacts with the under surface of the plate 5. The pin 4 is then inserted through the collar and the shaft section, so as to hold the collar fast.

The housing or casing (Scorn-prises a body portion 15 and its cover plate 16, and the lower portion offthe cylindrical wall of the housing or casing terminates in an annular inward y turned flange 17, which underlies the plate 5. After applying the plate 5 and the collar 3, the body of the housing or casing 6 is then slipped over the upper tubular shaft section, until the annular lateral flange 17 contacts with the plate 5. The'cover plate 16 is'then connected to the-body of the housinglo'r casing, by the fastening screws 18.

X'tending across the upper face of the cover plate 16 is a transverse handle holder 19, which has anadditional holder 20 projecting at an acute angle from the'h'older 19. The niainand auxiliary holders l9 and 20 are secured by bolts 21 and to'the cover plate 16. Also a suitable screw bolt 23 engaged through'th'e main handle holder and through the cover plate, and-is threaded into the upper end of the'uppermost shaft section. The'upper extremity ofthis'uppermost shaft section issolid, to permit the screw bolt to be threaded thereto, for the purpose of additionally holding the cover plate in place, as well as the handle holders, and also for holding the casing or housing in position. In fact the cover plate rests upon the upper extremity of the upper tubular shaft section, and since the body of the housing or casing 6 is secured to the cover plate, the inturned lateral-flange l7 willbe held against the under surface of the-plate 5.

As previously stated the ratchet dogs are pivotally mounted at 1i on the interior of the housing or casing in diametrically opposite positions. Each dogis provided with arms or forks 1 0 and 11 at=its opposite ends. As previously stated these forks are in'pairs, hence they will engage the upper'and lower lugs 8 and 9.

Tensionspringsfi are interposed between the arms or forks l1 and the wall of the housing orcasing, thereby tensioning upon the dogs, to hold the-arms or forks or lugs 11 in'contact-with the lugs'8 and 9,-as the ratchetdeviceis rotated in one direction,

Springs'2 5 are Connected to the dogs or ar'inslO, andthes'ie springs are in'tur'n partly telescopedonto t-h'e inner extremities 26 of theiradialrods- 27. This-pin or-rod 27 is mounted in aguide 28 of the housing or casin'g, andm ay-beforced inwardly, to depress the s"pringf25 and increase its 'tension. The pin "or-.rod-27 has a shoulder 29 which engages the inner sm-fate of" the wall of the casin er.- is' and "l'iolds-zthe 13i11- d pressed. The increasing of the tension of the spring 25 causes the dog to tilt on its pivot so that the extremities of the arms or lugs 10 may cooperate with the lugs 8 and 9 on the upper extremity of the uppermost tubular shaft section, so that when the easing or housing 6 is rotated in the desired direction, the rotation ofthe tubular shaft may be reversed. The release of the pin or rod 27 will permit the tension of the spring 241:0 tilt the dog, whereby the extremities ofits arms or lugs 11 may engage the lugs 8 and 9 of the uppermost tubular shaft section, al-

lowing the shaftto be rotated in the desired I direction to bore the post hole.

After, the circular plate 5 has been placed in position and the collar 3 fastened bythe pin it, the housing or casing 6 is then slipped over the lower end of the tubular shaft section, until the flange 17 engages the under surface of the plate 5, then the cover 16 is secured to the housing, and since the cover 16 rests upon the upper end of the uppermost tubular shaft section, the housing or casing is held securely in place. In order to rotate the housing or casing and also the tubular shaft, a handle 30 may be inserted in any one cfthe socketed handle holders 15) and'QO. In fact the handle is inserted first in one socket, and then in another, until the auger has been operated sufficiently, and the post hole bored to the desired depth. The casing or housing and itstubular shaft is then rotated in the opposite direction, in order to remove the auger.

The invention having been set forth,what is claimed is l. The combination witha member to be rotated provided with a plurality of upper and lower radial lugs, of a casing swivelly connected to the upper extremity of said member and provided with Imeans for rotating the same, apair of diametrically oppo site ratchet dogs pivotally mounted in said casing, each having at its ends forks or arms, either set adapted to cooperate with the upper and lower lugs of said member, to rotate the same,-tension means to hold one end of each dog normally depressed whereby the extremities of the arms or forks may cooperate with the upper and lower lugs, and means for urging pressure on the opposite ends of the ratchet dogs to tilt'the same" to permit the other set of forks or arms to cohp'erate with thel'ugs,

2. The combination with a Inember'to be rotated provided at its upper extremity with upper and lower radial lugs, of a casing swivelly connected to .theextremity ofsai'd memberand housing said lugs,- a ratchet dog pivotally mounted in said casing aiidprovided with-projections, a pair at each end,

'me a srrs es-Pr s ur po 'o efi of the 1 dog 7 to hold forie "pair of pro wer -"e r heri "9 the? ftit h loo and means to overcome the first tensioning means to depress the other end of the dog to urge its pair of projections in cooperation with the lugs of said member, and means carried by the casing, for rotating it in either dog pivotally mounted in said casing and provided with projections, a pair at each end. tensioning means bearing upon one end of the ratchet dog to hold its respective projections normally in cooperation with said lugs, and means for urging pressure against the other end of said ratchet dog to cause the other set of projections to engage said lugs, and disengage the first set of projections, enabling thecasing to be rotated in the reverse direction, and means for rotating the casing in either direction.

4. The combination with a member to be rotated provided with upper and lower radial lugs, of a casing housing said lugs and being swivelly connected to the upper extremity of said member, means to support the casing and prevent axial movement thereof relatively to the member, a ratchet dog pivotally mounted in said casing and provided with projections, a pair at each end, tensioning means bearing upon one end of the ratchet dog to hold its respective projections normally in cooperation with said lugs, a tensioning device bearing upon the other end of said ratchet dog, a depressible pin forinc-reasing the tension of said device, to cause the ratchet dogto tilt upon its pivot, whereby the'other set of projections may engage the lugs of said member, and

the first set disengaged, enabling the casing to be rotated in the opposite direction.

6. The combination with a member to-be rotated provided with upperand lower radial lugs, of a casing housing said-lugs andbeing swivelly connected to the upper extremity of said member, means to support the casing and prevent axial movement thereof relatively to the member, a ratchet dog pivotally mounted in said casing and provided with projections, a pair at each end, tensioning means bearing upon one end of the ratchet dog to hold its respective projections normally in cooperationwith said lugs, a tension'ing device bearing upon the other-end of said ratchet dog, a depressible pin for increasing the tension of said device, to cause the ratchet dog to tilt' upon its pivot, whereby the other set of projections may engage the lugs of said member,

and the first set disengaged, enabling the casing to be rotated in the opposite direction,

and means for holding said pin depressed, 7

thereby holding the tension of said device,

to hold the ratchet dog tilted, and means for rotating the casing.

In testlmonywhereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

PEARL HUDSON. 

